Are certain years engines better than others?

The 96 and later engine with the improved starter gear is a big plus, as early engines can be damaged if/when the engine kicks backward.

Somewhere around 2005 the rocker arms got a hardened pad on the wearing surface that was not on the earlier bikes.  I have seen many damaged/worn out early rockers - I can't remember seeing any damaged rockers that had the hardened pad.

Registered mine, it's a 94.
Harley muffler, jetted carb, nitrided cam chain, versavy tensioner.
Any idea on finding that kick back do-hickey?
How much are cams and hi comp piston installs these days, if I send a jug and head?
How much for a whole, built engine, if it'll fit in the gs450 I'm getting?

If you own a 95 like I do ,there are ways to avoid installing the new starter gear, and the harder rocker pads aren't needed if your rockers are in good shape and you use good oil  . I have employed neither ,and purchased my bike new in 95, and have run it every year since without damage. the relay turning off the headlight at starting ? I look at being unneeded , just another problem if it fails, why would Suzuki worry enough to add it after 18 years?

Dave , That's quite a stretch,  a lead/acid battery sitting for days at -10 degrees  would most likely be destroyed, and even if the bike did start who would ride it even at 35 mph ,when facing a wind chill factor of -67 degrees.
          The compression release  is needed,  not only to allow you to start the bike if the piston is on the compression stroke , but to ease the amps drawn by the starter ,and thus the heat generated, which can damage it, as there is no source of cooling other than time. The stock battery is 14ah which has the power to start the bike even with the headlight on , and a battery of about 7ah is most likely what your running in your café bike.  

Batman.

Sorry my -10 degree example has seemed unrealistic to you - the Suzuki Savage owners manual seems to suggest the bike can be operated in temperatures as low as -20!

My point is........that Suzuki designed the bike for starting in some seriously cold weather, as the bike is sold around the world and there are no disclaimers that the bike should not be used in cold weather in the owners manual.  

And a lead acid battery has no problem surviving in -10 degree weather.....I used to live in an area where we could get temperatures down that low in the winter, and often the cold snap would last a week or two.  It has been about 30 years ago - but I even had to drive my car to work on a day when it was -25 in Cincinnati!

Most folks who are running the stock piston and installed the manual compression release never need to use it, as the bike starts just fine in summer temperatures without the compression release.  The only time I need my compression release it about 1 out of 100 attempts - if the piston is on the compression stroke when I hit the starter button it cannot push the Wiseco piston over TDC.

I have a 97mm WISECO piston and a manual Compression release and only very rarely do I need to use it.  The starter spins up the engine easily and quite smartly.